Curious as to the derivation of "jones" as in my co-worker's frequent admission that she "has a jones for shoes" -- is this drug argot from the excuses given for surreptitious meetings ("I'm going to see Mr. Jones.")?

JonesThe exact origin of this word meaning an overwhelming yen or craving is unknown. It first appears in Black English in the early 1960s. The original sense is of a heroin addiction. Gradually, the meaning widened to include any desire.

I have not heard this word in a while - some years, at least. I did not hear the word as a pure noun, but more like a gerund or infinitive, as in "to jones" or "jonesing." But when I heard it , it seemed to have a different meaning. "Jonesing" seemed to mean trying to get something without paying for it, or get more than your fair share of it - begging, borrowing with no intention of paying back, finding "lost" or "misplaced" money, "liberating" money and property that were not locked down.

- parody of "Love Jones" by Brighter Side Of Darkness- as recorded by Cheech & Chong on their 1973 album "Los Cochinos"- all-star band included George Harrison, Carole King, Billy Preston and Tom Scott, with Darlene Love and Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & The Papas) as cheerleaders.- single peaked at #15 in 1973

Barry White & Chris Rock did a vesion of the bouncy classic for the cartoon movie Spacejam

Yes, I am the victim of a Basketball JonesEver since I was a little baby, I always be dribblin'In fac', I was de baddest dribbler in the whole neighborhoodThen one day, my mama bought me a basketballAnd I loved that basketballI took that basketball with me everywhere I wentThat basketball was like a basketball to me

I even put that basketball underneath my pillowMaybe that's why I can't sleep at nightI need help, ladies and gentlemensI need someone to stand beside meI need, I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of lifeSomeone I can pass toSomeone to hit the open man on the give-and-goAnd not end up in the popcorn machineSo cheerleaders, help me out

{while Tyrone Shoelaces sings/speaks...} Oh, that sounds so sweet Sing it out C'mon Coach Booty, Red Blazer, sing along with me That be bad, honky Yeah I want everybody in the whole stadium to stand up and sing with us Oh yeah, sing it out like you're proud All right, everybody watchin' coast-to-coast, sing along with us Bill Russell, sing along with us Chick Hearn, sing along with us Chris Schenkel, don't sing nothin'

Oh, it feels so good Gimme the ball I'll go one-on-one against the world, left-handed I could stuff it from center court with my toes I could jump on top of the backboard, take off a quarter, leave fifteen cents change I could, I could dribble behind my back I got more moves than Ex-Lax I'm bad I could dribble with my tongue Here I go down court, try to stop me You can't stop me 'cause I got a Basketball Jones Here I come That's my hook shot with my eyebrow Yeah, I could dunk it with my nose I'm, I'm bad as King Kong, gimme the ball I'm hot, I'm hot as..., I'm hot as..., I'm hot as... uh Uh, uh, uh, uh

Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site.
Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to
hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.